Gate operating means



Feb. 16, 1937. n r w. l. GOLDEN 2,070,789

-GATE ORERATING MEANS Filed March 2, 1935 35 f 5l INVENTOR. Wurf/r f, buf/x .48 v v ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 16, 1937 psirEn sTArEs PATENT OFFICE GATE OPERATING MEANS Ind., a corporation Application March 2, 1935, Serial No. 9,008

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatically operable safety and warning construction guarding grade crossings.

One of the chief objects of the invention is 5 to audibly and visually warn a driver approaching a grade crossing for an interval preceding the closing of the crossing by an automatically actuated gate or barrier.

Another object of the invention is to associate in an automatically operable gate a latch device which will retain the gate arm in the elevated position and prevent lowering of the gate until the latch has been automatically released.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the accomplishment of the aforesaid objects by a relatively simple mechanism associated with an automatically operable gate.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the 90 following description and claims:

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view of an automatically operable gate and the automatic control system therefor.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of a portion of the gate structure embodying a latch and a lost-motion connection and in the gate elevated position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same parts in the gate lowered position. 30 Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the latch and lost-motion connection and is taken at right angles to Figs. 2 and 3, the parts being shown in the gate elevated position.

In the drawing I indicates a pair oi rails including the insulation therein. Associated with an insulated section of the rails is an electrical circuit. Herein I2 indicates one power main and I3 the other. The primary I4 of a transformer is connected across said mains. The secondary I5 of the transformer is connected by line I6 to one rail I0 of the insulated section and by a line Il to a solenoid I8, the other terminal of which is connected by line I9 to the other rail I0 of the section.

When a train, represented by the wheels and axle 2l), moves into the insulated block or section of the track, which block crosses the highway to be protected by the gate, the circuit is completed and thus the solenoid I8 is energized. 'I'he solenoid |8 has a core 2| which terminates in an insulation support 22 mounting bridging contacts 23 and 24. Line 25 connected at one end to power main I3 is connected by switch contact 23 to line 20 and in turn connected as at 21 to the motor. The other line 28 of the motor is associated with a switch 29 which is termed a level switch in that until the gate arm 30 is in a horizontal, or substantially horizontal position and in position to guard the track crossing, said bevel switch will maintain a closed circuit relation between line 28 and line 3|.

Line 3| is connected to line 32 by contact 24 of the solenoid switch. Thus immediately upon the train entering the insulated block, the power motor is energized for gate movement and will remain energized until the gate is moved intoguarding position, whereupon the circuit will be broken to the motor through the level switch 29.

The gate structure includes the gate arm, or barrier, 30, pivotally mounted at 33 in a rotatable head casting 34. The arm structure is extended as at 35 and terminates in a counterbalance or weight 36. The head structure is closed by a cap 3l. The head structure is rotatably supported for horizontal movement or oscillation upon a standard 38.

It is to be understood the head structure with the gate arm may move horizontally upon impact for the purpose well known in the art, and since any desirable structure may be embodied for accomplishing such purpose and the automatic return to the original position, a disclosure oi any such mechanism is omitted. Such a mechanism may be that disclosed in the Dilley and Fraser Patent No. 1,874,926, dated August 30, 1932.

On a suitable standard or post 39 adjacent the crossing, is mounted a bell 40 and a pair of signal lights M. The lights AI are connected in multiple with each other and in multiple with the warning bell and are so connected to the main circuit that when the solenoid switch, rst mentioned, is closed, these lights tI and bell 40 will be illuminated and ring, respectively, to warn the driver of the approaching vehicle that a train then is in the insulated block.

Also, if desired, in multiple with the aforesaid warning signals, may be another signal such as a light 42 carried by the gate arm so that at night the gate, when lowered for crossing guarding purposes, will visually warn the driver of the approaching vehicle of the gate obstruction or barrier.

It will be observed from Fig. l, and to which no special reference is made in this description in the matter of the circuits to the respective lights and warning bell, that as long as the train remains in the insulated block, these different signals will be energized irrespective of whether the motor is energized or has become deenergized through the level switch.

It will also be noted that in the event the gate arm encounters an obstruction in its lowering movement, such as falling upon the top of a mo'- tor vehicle, the motor will continue to operate so that should the vehicle thereafter pass from under the gate, the gate will be lowered into guarding position. Furthermore, it will be noted in the event the gate is intentionally elevated after having once been lowered into guarding position, that the level switch thereupon will reclose the motor circuit and positively insure the return of the gate to the lowered position.

The type of gate mechanism herein disclosed is such that it is normally constrained by gravity into the elevated position and is power movable into the lowered position. For the purpose of illustrating this invention, it has been associated with a single subsidiary power mechanism. However, the'invention may be applied to a guarding system embodying a plurality of gates, each of which is provided with an auxiliary or subsidiary power mechanism, and reference is had to the application of James H. Fraser, Serial No. 667,455, led April 22, 1933, entitled, Highway crossing gate an-d control system. Reference is solely made thereto for the reason that with a plurality of gates, there will be provided a level switch for each gate arranged in multiple so that as long as any one of a group of gates in the system is not lowered, the single motor for such a system will remain energized.

As stated, to simplify the disclosure, the invention has been illustrated as applied to a single gate structure.

Herein, the pump t3 is connected to the motor 9 and the intake M of the pump draws uid from the reservoir l5 and discharges said fluid by line 46 including a one-way check all to conduit 58 communicating with one end oi' a cylinder 59. The latter contains piston 5l) carrying rod 5l that extends through the opposite end of the cylinder and upwardly. The cylinder and piston structure, as shown in the drawing, is enclosed within the standard 38.

In view of the fact that the pump may continue to operate by reason of continued motor operation and the gate arm may not loe able to be moved into the lowered position by reason or encountering an automobile, or the like, on the crossing, a relief structure is provided, including line 52 controlled by a pressure relier" valve 53 discharging through the check valve 5d to the reservoir. Thus, the motor, if it continues to operate and the gate cannot be lowered so as to open the motor circuit through the switch 25B, will discharge the surplus fluid supplied by the pump to the reservoir.

A conduit 55 is in free communication with conduit it and included in said conduit is a check valve 5t. Conduit 55 discharges to the reservoir and if desired may be of the complete gravity drain type. Interposed in the conduit 55 is a valve 5l which is operated by a solenoid 58 and a spring, not shown. The valve is so arranged that when the solenoid is not energized, it will be held in the open position by reason of the spring and when the solenoid is'energized, the valve will be held in the closed position in opposition to the opening action of the spring. The solenoid 58 is connecte-d by the line 5S to the line 3l and by the line t3 to the line So that, so long as the train is in the insulated block, the solenoid valve 5l or dump valve, will remain closed, thus, insuring maintenance of the gate arm 3S in the lowered position after the motor has moved the arm to the lowered position and has been deenergized by reason of the opening of the motor circuit through the level switch 29. If the gate is manually elevated the surplus liquid is discharged through the relief valve, and upon release from the manual force, the level switch closes the motor circuit and the gate is returned to its lowered position as previously described.

Reference will now be had more specically to Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, wherein the mechanical connection between the subsidiary power source, the piston and cylinder, and the gate arm, is illustrated. This connection includes a lost-motion arrangement so that initial movement of the piston toward the gate closed position, does not initially secure gate lowering movement. Therefore, the several signals, visual and audible, will be energized for warning purposes for a period before the gate arm starts to move into or toward the guarding position. The purpose of this delayed action relative to gate movement withl respect to warning is obvious.

The aforesaid operating connection between the gate arm and the subsidiary source of power, also is associated with a latch which is operable by gravity or may be constrained by a spring toward latching position, and when in that position and the other cooperating parts are properly positioned, the gate arm is locked in the elevated position. The lost-motion arrangement permits relative movement between certain parts of the aforesaid connection which permits one part to move while the other remains relatively stationary and the moving part can be and is utilized to automatically release the latch.

The latch consists of a U-shaped stirrup having the arms 5i, the midportion 52 which is the latch portion and the two outwardly directed arms E53, the latter being pivotally supported as at @il by the head structure 35s. Herein the mass of the latch surlicient so that gravity tends to constrain the same toward vertical depending position although the same never assumes such position, because it engages in the notch 65 formed in an operating arm @5 keyed as at 6l to the gate arm supporting and tilting shaft 33. The cap structure 5S secures the operating arm to the shaft in encircling relation and the key 67 prevents relative rotation therebetween.

The opposite end of the operating arm 66 is straddled by a pair of wing or plate portions 69. The end of the operating arm 66 supports a transverse projecting pin 'lil and adjacent thereto is the surface ll provided for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The operating arm is relieved as at l2 for clearance purposes, hereinafter to be mentioned.

Each of the wing portions B9 is provided with an angularly directed, and herein the same is illustrated as at 45, cam surface 73. The lower ends of the wing or plate portions are integral with a tubular socket 'lli which has a threaded aperture l5 at its lower end adapted for threaded connection to the piston rod and this provides an adjustable connection therebetween, the adjustment being locked by means of the nut 76, The tubular portion 'Eli is recessed as at 'll and provides an inner seat i3 against which bears the lower end of a spring i9, which spring 'i9 bears at its upper end against a bearing plate or head 8u of a plunger having the stem portion 8l nested within the spring. The head 8D of the plunger is normally constrained by the spring into engagement with the surface 'H of arm G6. The lower end of head lill nests in the socket at all times.

The tubular portion 'i4 between the `plates G9 is suitably recessed as at 82 for clearance between the plates so there will be no interference with the operating arm 66, the latter, as before mentioned, being relieved as at l2 for the same purpose.

Each plate includes an elongated slot 83 having semi-circular ends, 84 indicating the lower end and 85 the upper end, which ends are adapted for selective engagement with the pin lll. Cotter keys 86 together with washers 88 limit longitudinal movement of the pin to prevent separation of the yoke structure and the operating arm. The operation of this lost-motion and latch structure is briefly as `follows;-

The fluid supplied by pump 43 to cylinder 49 through conduit 128 elevates piston 50, piston rod l and the yoke connector 54. It is assumed the parts are in a position corresponding to the gate elevated position and are represented as such in Fig. 2.

In this initial piston travel, the two plates move upwardly until the bottom G4 of the two slots engages the pin li). During this interval of relative movement between the yoke connector and the operating arm, the cam face 'i3 is elevated correspondingly and forces upwardly and to the left-see Fig. 2-the mid-portion t2 of the latch and thus cams the same out oi the notch 65 of the operating arm which latch has been holding the operating arm and gate arm in the elevated position. The approximate elevated position is about 60 to the vertical, so that the operating arm in moving the gate arm to the substantially horizontal position has an operating arc of about 60.

The latch clears the operating arm and fully releases the same previous to or simultaneously with the positioning of the pin l@ in the lower portion 84 of the slot 83. Continued upward piston movement then tilts the operating arm 6B and with it the gate arm in opposition to the weight 3E. The fluid supply to the cylinder is controlled as previously set forth with reference to the description and operation of the parts diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. l.

After the train has left the insulated block, the electric motor 9 is no longer energized. The pump 53 no longer supplies iluid under pressure tothe cylinder and the solenoid valve 5l is deenergized, permitting the spring to open said valve toppen the drain or dump line and thereupon the fluid within the cylinder below the piston drains by gravity to the reservoir. The gate arm having its constraint opposing force, imposed by fluid under pressure, released, is then returned to the elevated position by the counterweighting 36. In this return movement, if the spring 'i9 is suiiciently strong, and it preferably is, the spring initially elongates in the initial return movement of the gate arm so as to force the piston, the rod and the yoke downwardly at an accelerated rate with reference to the downward movement of the pin 'lll until the pin engages the upper end 85 of the slot.

Continued elevating movement of the gate arm through its counterbalance, the force of spring 'I9 and continued discharge of the fluid from the cylinder, permits the piston, rod and yoke to return toward the position shown in Fig. 2, but previous to attaining that position, the latch, which was positioned as shown in Fig. 3 when the gate was lowered, moves downwardly and inwardly toward the operating arm until gravity seats it in the notch 65 at the end of the arm movement and thus the gate arm is locked in the elevated position.

In the event a weaker spring 'i9 is utilized, the operation may be slightly different, to wit, instead of the yoke connector having an initial accelerated movement at the initial movement of the gate arm from its lowered position toward its elevated position, the entire mechanism may be returned to-ward the gate elevated position with the pin riding in the top of the slot and then after the gate arm has attained the position shown in Fig. 2, corresponding to the gate elevated position, the spring 'lc then extends and overcomes the friction of the piston and the several parts and moves the yoke downwardly and with it the piston rod and piston until the pin 'l0 engages the top 83 of the slot. When thus positioned, the latch seats in the notch t5 of the operating arm S5.

The use of a weaker spring, however, has one objection and that is it may fail to function in cold weather. Consequently, the use of a relatively stronger spring is preferred with the first type of operation and in preference to the latter type of operation.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the several signals will be automatically energized previous to the initiation of the gate lowering movement, thereby warning the driver of the approaching vehicle previous to interposing the barrier. Also the latch mechanism retains the gate in the elevated position, and thus prevents accidental lowering of the gate due to wind or other causes. This also prevents intentional manual lowering of the'gate by persons desiring to stop vehicles approaching the crossing for robbery purposes.

The construction specifically illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, provides, by reason of this lostmotion connection, this preliminary warning interval and the same lost-motion arrangement is utilized to automatically release, through the cam surfaces o-n the plates, the latch provided for the purpose set forth.

The adjustable stop 8l on the head limits the lowering movement of the gate arm.

While the invention has been described in great detail in the foregoing specification, the same is to be considered as illustrative and in no sense restrictive in character, and the several modifications herein disolosed or referred to are considered, together with all others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, to be within the broad scope of this invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:-

1. In a crossing gate structure, the combination with a vertically tiltable gate arm, an operating arm therefor, and power operable means for operating said arm, of delayed acting means operatively connecting the operating arm and power operable means, said gate arm being normally constrained toward one position and power movable in the opposite direction in opposition to the constraint, the power operable means being power operable in one direction only and movable in the opposite direction by the gate arm constraint, the delayed acting means, interposed between the power operable means and the operating arm, securing relative movement therebetween during the constrained operable portion of the cycle of movement.

2. In a crossing gate structure, the combination with a vertically tiltable gate arm, an operating arm therefor, and power operable means for operating said arm, of delayed acting means operatively connecting the operating arm and power operable means, said gate arm being normally constrained toward one position and power movable in the opposite direction in opposition to the constraint, the power operable means being power operable in one direction only and movable in the opposite direction by the gate arm constraint, the delayed acting means, interposed between the power operable means and the operating arm, securing relative movement therebetween during the constrained operable portion of the cycle of movement, said operating arm and said power operable means having a straddling relationship and the delayed acting means including a straddle bridging member and an elongated slot arrangement, and yielding means interposed between said power operable means and said arm for the purpose set forth.

3. In a crossing gate structure, the combination of an operating arm member, a reciprocable power operable member for moving said arm member, the adjacent end of one member straddling the adjacent end of the other member, one of said adjacent ends having a cam formation, the adjacent end of the other member having a latch receiving socket, a latch normally constrained toward socket seating, and a lost-motion connection between the adjacent straddled arranged ends of said members whereby cam release of the latch is effective in the initial movement of the power operable member previous to the initial movement of the gate operating arm member.

4. In a crossing gate structure, the combination of an operating arm member, a reciprocable power operable member for moving said arm member, the adjacent end of one member straddling the adjacent end of the other member, one of said adjacent ends having a cam formation, the adjacent end of the other member having a latch receiving socket, a latch normally constrained toward socket seating, a lost-motion connection between the adjacent straddled arranged ends of said members whereby cam release of the latch is effective in the initial movement of the power operable member previous to the initial movement of the gate operating arm member, and yielding means interposed between the adjacent ends of the two cooperating members and operatively associated with the lostmotion connection therebetween for' the purpose set forth.

5. In a crossing gate, the combination of an operating arm, pivoted for movement about a xed axis, a reciprocable operating member terminating in a yoke straddling the operating arm, the yoke including a socket, a coil spring having one end nested in said socket, a headed plunger having its head portion operatively bearing on the operating arm between the spaced portions of the yoke and a stem portion nested within the coil spring, the oppo-site end of the latter operatively bearing upon said head portion of the plunger, said operating arm including a latch receiving notch in juxtaposition to the spaced portions of the reciprocable member, aligned cam surfaces provided on said spaced portions and in juxtaposition to said notch, a latch normally constrained toward notch seating and movable therefrom in opposition to the constraint by said cam surfaces, and a pin carried by one of said members and, the other of said members having an elongated slot providing a lost-motion connection therebetween.

6. A device as dened by claim 5, characterized by the spaced portions each including an aligned slot and the pin projecting oppositely and laterally from the sides of the operating arm member, the projecting ends of said pin being seatable in the slots.

7. In a crossing gate structure, the combination with a vertically tiltable gate arm, an operating arm therefor, power operable means, power movable in one direction only for gate movement in one direction, and constraining means opposing same for gate arm movement in the opposite direction, latch means normally constrained for gate locking in the constrained position, a connection between the arm and power operable means for tilting the operating arm for gate arm tilting in opposition to the opposing constraining means, said connection having limited relative movement between portions thereof, and means carried by the power operable means connected portion of the connection for actuating the latch for gate arm release in opposition to the latch constraint in the initial power movement of power operable means.

WALTER I. GOLDEN. 

